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Shenkute, S., Legasse, G., Tegegne, A., Hassen, A. 2010. Small ruminant production in coffee-based mixed crop-livestock system of Western Ethiopian Highlands: Status and prospectus for improvement. Livestock Research for Rural Development 22 (10)

Abstract/Description

The study was conducted in Goma district of Jimma Zone of Ethiopia with the objectives of documenting the reasons why
farmers in coffee dominant mixed-farming systems of western Ethiopia keep small ruminants, and identifying the
constraints and opportunities for improvement of this sector. Results are based on diagnostic survey of 160 sample
households, group discussions and personal observation. The study district was stratified into three groups based on flock
distribution as: sheep dominating, goat dominating and mixed flock sites.
The average land holding per household was 1.93 ha. In Goma where coffee and chat are the major cash sources for
farmers, small ruminant are also primarily kept for cash generation as reported by 94% of the sampled households. The
second main reason for keeping small ruminant in the study area was for saving mainly in time of coffee failure. Keeping
small ruminants as a source of manure was the third important reason. From the interviewed households, 59.4, 32.1, 23.5,
and 19.4% of them utilize communal grazing, aftermath grazing, roadside grazing, and riverside grazing, respectively for
their animal as a sources of feed. Most small ruminants are either tethered or herded all the seasons due to the cultivation of
perennial crops and predators. All small ruminants are housed for protection from adverse weather conditions and
predators. The major problems for small ruminant production and marketing were: feed and grazing land shortage, lack of
input, predators, diseases and parasites and marketing problems.
In order to exploit the current growing demand of small ruminant meat at local and international markets, research and
development interventions are required with regard to the identification of alternative feed resources and strategic feeding
management, identification of causes of diseases and their control methods and improving marketing efficiency through
appropriate policy.